Wednesday, May 23, 2007

9 years ago today I walked down the aisle and said "forever." Where do I start? How do I begin to explain how I feel about this man I married? Just thinking about writing this has me teary eyed. I am so grateful that I chose this amazing person to share my adventure. I met Russ 11 years ago. 11 YEARS AGO! It seems like a few months ago. I was 19 and he was 20. The story of how we met is lots of fun. Maybe I will tell you that one soon but not today. Today is for my Russ.

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Dear Soccer Boy,

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How do I thank you for who you are? I can't possibly express what you mean to me. With all my heart I adore you. If I could choose any man in this entire world I would choose you all over again. Not because you are what is familiar or comfortable- although you are. :0)

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I would choose you because of who you are. You are beyond amazing.

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Before we even went on our first date I saw who you would be. I knew even then what you were capable of doing. After only a couple of months I knew it would be you and me forever. The night you asked me to marry you there wasn't a moment of hesitation. I was yours 11 years ago. I have been yours ever since and will be forever.

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We were seriously babies when we fell in love. Growing up with you has been the best decision I ever made. I have had the privilege of watching you become this incredible man. You are becoming everything I dreamed I would have in a husband. You are so involved and precious with your girls. I could not ask for a better Daddy for my babies. You treat me like a princess and challenge me to become more than I thought I could be. You have backed me up in pursuing my dreams and opened up doors that I never would have seen without you. You are honestly far beyond what I imagined for my life. I am so honored to be your helpmate and partner.

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I am crazy in love with you. Sometimes my heart still flutters when I think about you. I can't wait to spend time with you and tell you what's in my heart. I admire and respect you. When I see our future together I see wild adventures. I love that about us. Life is never boring with you Soccer Boy. Life is always an adventure. Together we are learning not to live afraid. We dream big, HUGE EVEN and then we watch it happen.

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Amazing, that's what my life is. I could not ask for more. I can't imagine better than life with you. Thank you Russ. Thanks for choosing me, loving me, caring for me, pushing me towards greatness, putting up with me and adoring me the whole way. You are the greatest blessing in my life.

_Love Always, Chipmunk_

I made you this video babe. I hope you have fun seeing it all over again. Love ya!

You are my team leader on the "No More Junk in the Trunk" blog. I happened to decide to lurk on your site today... and I'm so glad I did. What a beautiful letter to your husband. Even though I've never seen either one of you before today, I feel like I know how great you both are by that wonderful letter. Congratulations on your special day. Best wishes for many many more years of happiness. -Jenny (aka Fat-Back)

Kai Justice

About Me

My name is Angel. I'm 34 yrs old. I'm a homeschooling, gluten free, Jesus loving, Disney going, Twilight reading, nose ring wearing, picture taking,world traveling, orphan holding warrior girl of a mom to 4 beautiful children. Each of our children is such a blessing. I can't imagine life without the joy they bring. Of course... never 2 b forgotten...I have an amazing husband (Russ) who I adore w/all of my heart. I would pick him over any man in the world- hands down. Plus he is super hot too. :o) Living an average life doesn't cut it for us. Who knows what wild adventures lie ahead. I guess I have what most people might consider kind of a crazy life. I wouldn't want it any other way. My life is amazing. The ups and downs have taught me so much along the way. I am excited to see where God leads us. It's gonna be GREAT! Join us for the journey... Angel

Dangerous Surrender Book Club

Our Deepest Fear- by Marianne Williamson

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Where are my readers from?

Change A Life With Only $25!!!!!

Our Cast of Characters

Pop

Nonny

Polka Dot

This is Polka Dot! She is married to Grandpa- Angel's Mother

Grandpa

This is Grandpa! He is married to Polka Dot- Angel's Father

Cousin Lauren

This is Lauren! (the one in the middle)

Lauren

This is Lauren and her brothers. You knew her as Esperanza if you followed Zoe's adoption in Guatemala. Zoe and Lauren were very close in Guatemala as they both waited to be adopted. Now Lauren lives in the US with her biological brothers (shown with her here) who were adopted before she was and her wonderful new parents!

Tia Bek

This is Tia Bek. She is my mom's best buddy and a part of the family. Zoe adores her and Bek speaks to her in Spanish to help her keep it as a second language.

Scott and Carol

This is Scott and Carol with Lauren. They are her parents. These people are beyond amazing. They adopted Lauren's younger siblings. Her youngest brother had a rare extremely life threatening disease. After over a year of battling for his life they started the process to adopt Lauren. They are some of the strongest people I know. I am so grateful that we get to know them through our girls. We are meeting them in Sea World this summer with all our kiddos! YAY!

Lidia

This is Lidia! She was Zoe's foster sister in Guatemala. She was waiting along with Lauren and Zoe. She came home to her amazing family in the US a couple of months before Zoe. She was nine years old when she got home. Zoe and Lidia are extremely close. We went to visit them in July.

Lidia's family

This is Lidia's family! They are experienced in the adoption world. Before they adopted Lidia they adopted Bayla (their youngest) from China. Now Brinley has come home from China too. Congrats! Lisa (Lidia's Momma) found me from my blog during our first visit to Guatemala. She just "happened" to run across my blog and see that my pictures (of Zoe) had the same house furniture as her pics of Lidia. She wrote to me and SURE ENOUGH our girls were foster sisters. We had the same lawyer but different agencies. We probably never would have met if God hadn't intervened. Now we are great friends!

G- foster mommy

We will call this sweet lady G for her privacy- she was Zoe's foster mommy in Guatemala. She is wonderful and I have the highest respect for the love and care she gave my sweet girl. Zoe lived with her for over a year before coming home with us. I truly thank God for this wonderful foster family. Zoe speaks with G and her family on the phone often.

The struggle to bring Zoe home- Praise You In This Storm

My Husband- LOOK AT THOSE MOVES!

My Christmas 2006 Gift To My Blogger Buddies- a tribute to our children

Zoe's first blog interview after we brought her home- Jan 07 home 2 months